COLDEST reading deck(s) you've ever had

[Chariot]

Regarding Deviant Moon - this little autobiography by the artist doesn't reassure me at all!   I don't want to go there.  It feels unhealthy to me - not what I want from tarot.  It might 'work' for readings, but I shudder to think what aspects of the readings it might focus on.
 https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B003LI3FLO/about

Edited September 30, 2023 by Chariot

[FindYourSovereignty]

29 minutes ago, Chariot said:

Regarding Deviant Moon - this little autobiography by the artist doesn't reassure me at all!   I don't want to go there.  It feels unhealthy to me - not what I want from tarot.  It might 'work' for readings, but I shudder to think what aspects of the readings it might focus on.
 https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B003LI3FLO/about

I’ve never been drawn to this deck, good readings or not. It wouldn’t work for me. Even if it was warm to me, I am cold towards it. 🥶

[DanielJUK]

41 minutes ago, Chariot said:

Regarding Deviant Moon - this little autobiography by the artist doesn't reassure me at all!   I don't want to go there.  It feels unhealthy to me - not what I want from tarot.  It might 'work' for readings, but I shudder to think what aspects of the readings it might focus on.
 https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B003LI3FLO/about

 

I don't think that is very fair just because you don't like his decks or artistic style. Plenty of people photograph graveyards and abandoned buildings, it's a whole genre these days. His bio is about 50% of young deck artists.

He was a member of AT and I know some people here are personal friends with him (I don't know him at all though). It's a top seller deck, so for many it's a great reading deck 🙂 . We can say we just don't like the deck or leaves us cold but that's our opinion and feelings, nothing to do with being unheathly or their personal style or bio 🙂

[FindYourSovereignty]

A deck that was a cold reader for me and I moved along was Tarot XIII by Nekro. I just could not warm

up to this deck. The person that has it now though loves it. 

 

[Chariot]

1 hour ago, DanielJUK said:

 

I don't think that is very fair just because you don't like his decks or artistic style. Plenty of people photograph graveyards and abandoned buildings, it's a whole genre these days. His bio is about 50% of young deck artists.

He was a member of AT and I know some people here are personal friends with him (I don't know him at all though). It's a top seller deck, so for many it's a great reading deck 🙂 . We can say we just don't like the deck or leaves us cold but that's our opinion and feelings, nothing to do with being unheathly or their personal style or bio 🙂

Fair enough, and as I said before I actually like the art in the deck and have swithered for a long time about buying it. But the notion that the backgrounds came from bits of an old insane asylum (his words) and a few other things he said just didn't feel healthy to me. He admits to being drawn to the 'melancholy' side of life, and I guess I'm not.  (Nor am I drawn to the happy-clappy side of it either, but that's another topic!  🙂 )

I do actually like his style, by the way, and would happily visit an exhibit of his work. But as a tarot deck, it kinda creeps me out.  I know it works well for others, which is another reason I've been swithering about it.  I had read his biography before, hoping that what he said about creating it would induce me to buy it.  It had the opposite effect!  Context is, sometimes, important, I reckon.  However, I am still swithering.... at times I feel almost compelled to buy it.   Which, in itself, is scary.

I do think it's okay to explain why I might be drawn to a deck and why I'm not.  Especially when I link to the artist's own words about the deck, so people can judge for themselves?

However, I feel this is getting off topic.  So back to 'cold readings?'  And sorry for the tangent.... 🙂

 

Edited September 30, 2023 by Chariot

[gregory]

I have no issues with DM's creation at all - I think it's awesome., But if we can't have decks that come from the dark side, we are being overly snowflakey, in my view. There's nothing "unhealthy" about macabre art, and we all bring our baggage with us when we create.

 Don't buy it if you don't like it - and don't listen to Beethoven, who was a very nasty piece of work, with his own demons. And avoid one of my best reading decks at all costs.

 

https://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/savage/

 

Deviant Moon is kindergarten stuff by comparison. 

 

I can't think of a deck that leaves me totally cold, but yes, the Cathar sank my boat rather than floating it. The Cathars interest me greatly - and the deck got it SO WRONG., If I hadn't known what it was supposed to feature, I might like it better,

[FindYourSovereignty]

As I read through the link Daniel posted I am reminder of several others I tried and moved along.

 

Tarot of the Old Path, The Dark Goddess Tarot,  The Dreamweaver Tarot, and the Shining Tribe. I have since repurchased the Shining Tribe as I am going to try it again from a different perspective than I  had originally. I wish I had kept the Dark Goddess. I also could not connect with Accurate AF Tarot round deck. I have sent some away that were cold, but repurchased so I am aware that cold today could be warm tomorrow. 

[Arania]

6 hours ago, akiva said:

It's an unusual energy. They're incredibly old and powerful spiritual beings. Most people who work with the Enochian spirits say that they're unlike anything else they've worked with. Nobody can even agree on what they are. Dee said they're angels, but they're definitely not Abrahamic in nature. Not sure if you read about Dee's cuckhold situation? 😅

 

 

This could work. Have you tried meditating with the deck? And maybe using the deck to read on why it feels so strange?

 

If you do sigil work, you could create a sigil that acts like a sponge to draw up the off energy, then burn it after a certain amount of time? Cheaper than buying a printer 😆

 

I hope you are eventually able to work with it. It's like no other deck, and it's very powerful! 

The term angels, or demons, encompasses so many things. I get a clear "we are" when directly asking about it. And really, I can't know either way. I'm way too limited despite some amazing experiences to really understand a thing  So was Dee... looking for treasures while he was given something special is priceless. Although we don't really know if he did not mean spiritual treasures? Well, probably not after all I read and listened to. 🤣

 

I didn't think to link Dee's behaviours to the deck. It might make sense, but, serial killer? What is it we don't know about his scryer... he was shady enough.

 

The energies of this deck scares me enough to avoid it completely. I can probably deal better with "serial killer" than "sex offender" but in any case not something I want to bother with. There are sigils on the box. I should probably dig it out and check what's going on with the deck. It has been some time.  Unfortunately, digging it out is meant literal, earth cleanses and was the element I felt needed to stabilize the imbalance in it. And that probably won't be possible until spring, because my housemate has put some sacks of stuff we need in spring close enough that I can't get to it. I forget it is there most of the time.

 

I should put doing that in my magical calendar... and then ignore it 😄

 

But back to topic I guess 🙂

 

[Misterei]

14 hours ago, Chariot said:

I have never swithered more about buying a deck than I have over Deviant Moon.  I still  haven't bought it. There is something fascinating but also incredibly repellent about that deck ...

Yes. I feel that way about Deviant Moon. Never bought it.

I was happy when Valenza came out with Triunfi della Luna. That way I got to enjoy his dark surreal art style ... but with a deck I can actually read.

[RunningWild]

I quite like the Deviant Moon but I find that some people don’t like to be read with it.  Not because it’s dark, but because…”bugs” 😅

 

I couldn’t find love in my heart for Ciro’s first deck.  It just felt flat to me.  His other decks that I own are just fine.

 

I like the looks of the Savage Tarot, too, but I don’t own it.  I’m sure it was either before my time with the cards or when I first started out or the cost.  I love darkish decks and that one looks like it would be fantastic for one card readings.

[Misterei]

14 hours ago, Nemia said:

Ethereal Visions. It's gorgeous but whenever I try to read with it - nothing. It's asleep and I can't wake it up. I can't get it to notice me. At all ...

Chacun a son gout! A friend gave me EV ... I wasn't sure about it ... maybe a bit too pretty for me};>

But it reads fine for me when I use it.

13 hours ago, akiva said:

... the Noblet TdM (which soon became my favourite) it just used to give me really snarky, mean readings. It was practically unreadable too, which is really strange as I could read my other TdM's fine!

Then one day it just stopped and it started giving nice, wholesome readings. I can trust it now to give accurate/on the point readings (feels weird talking about decks like this).

That's why I give decks a lot of second chances before I dump them. Like boyfriends when I was younger 😇.

But if a deck won't behave after a couple of years ... OUT with it!

 

@akiva said

<<I tried reiking the deck, cleansing with incense and sound, left it on the windowsill with selenite for about a month, even tried begging it to be nice, but it didnt work. So in the bin it went 😅 >>

 

I feel like decks either hit or they don't. And if they don't ... we cant really change it. Yet your experience with Noblet changing its tune is interesting.

And yes ... ONLY tarot people talk about their decks as if they were friendships or dates that either worked-out or didn't. OY! God help us.

11 hours ago, Nemia said:

... they are curated decks and use artwork that was never intended for tarot ...

I have mixed feelings about this concept. My Mucha Tarot reads fine. Accurate, reliable. Love it.

But I had to give away my Pre-Raphaelite Tarot. In 3 years it gave nothing buy sh%t reads every time I tried it ... finally gave it away a couple weeks ago.

I hope it reads better for my friend than it did for me!

[Arania]

1 hour ago, Misterei said:

 

Triunfi della Luna.

That's the other deck also giving me the creeps, although not quite as bad.

[Misterei]

29 minutes ago, Arania said:

That's the other deck also giving me the creeps, although not quite as bad.

Sola Busca SERIOUSLY gives me the creeps. I won't read with it. I keep it for historical value b/c I teach and its an important part of history.

Valenza's work does seem to be influenced by Sola Busca although he doesn't mention it per se.

But so was the 3 swords in RWS.

Anyway, Triunfi della Luna has such a sense of humor that i find i can read with it. But only on deeper shadow topics where a bit of dark and surreal are called for.

Edited October 1, 2023 by Misterei

[GreatDane]

Oh Misterei, there is one Sola Busca card that doesn't necessarily creep me out, but just no, that deck isn't one I just want to read with and since I have decks I LOVE to read with, it's like I'll pass.

BUT it certainly has interesting images.

[akiva]

10 hours ago, Misterei said:

That's why I give decks a lot of second chances before I dump them. Like boyfriends when I was younger 😇.

But if a deck won't behave after a couple of years ... OUT with it!

 

That's a good ethos to have whether deck or boyfriend! Gotta give them plenty of chances to change! "I can fix you Noblet" comes to mind 😆

 

10 hours ago, Misterei said:

I feel like decks either hit or they don't. And if they don't ... we cant really change it. Yet your experience with Noblet changing its tune is interesting.

And yes ... ONLY tarot people talk about their decks as if they were friendships or dates that either worked-out or didn't. OY! God help us.

 

The noblet had an old energy. It definitely felt like an old man or something hanging over my shoulder being super critical. I'm not sure what changed it (or why this particular deck felt that way). But now it's the only TdM I'll use, expect for a mini conver that I'll take out and about just in case.

 

This is the thing, after working with decks for so long, they do become friends/dates. There's a rapport that has to be built I guess. And some decks don't make it easy!

No amount of energy work was going to change that pack of playing cards though. I think out of the two, that's the most weird. It was like trying to be friends with a sociopath... 

[Misterei]

10 hours ago, akiva said:

The noblet had an old energy. It definitely felt like an old man or something hanging over my shoulder being super critical. I'm not sure what changed it ...

Old cranky Mr. Noblet decided you were ok after all and decided to share his wisdom with you.

 

@akiva

<<... after working with decks for so long, they do become friends/dates. ...

No amount of energy work was going to change that pack of playing cards though ... It was like trying to be friends with a sociopath... >>

 

Yeah, that never works out ... I always break-up with sociopaths };>

seriously I did once date a guy who turned out to be sociopath. I have some kind of dumb luck or guardian angel ... he was ok to me ... but later went to prison for like 40 years. Violent crazy guy who was for some reason nice to me ... EEEEEEEK!

[akiva]

19 minutes ago, Misterei said:

Yeah, that never works out ... I always break-up with sociopaths };>

seriously I did once date a guy who turned out to be sociopath. I have some kind of dumb luck or guardian angel ... he was ok to me ... but later went to prison for like 40 years. Violent crazy guy who was for some reason nice to me ... EEEEEEEK!

Omg @Misterei you dodged a bullet there, you've definitely got someone/something looking out for you! I was in a similar predicament myself, he didn't end up in prison for 40 years though, only 4 😂

 

Back on topic, I remembered another cold deck I've got... The Wildwood Tarot!

Amazing art, but I couldn't get on with the guidebook. Loads of people really gel with this deck, but for me I just can't get to grips with it. It's completely silent.

 

I can't part with it either, my parents bought it for me, I'm too sentimental for my own good 😢

[Misterei]

13 minutes ago, akiva said:

Omg @Misterei you dodged a bullet there, you've definitely got someone/something looking out for you! I was in a similar predicament myself, he didn't end up in prison for 40 years though, only 4 😂

OMG! Right? This guy picked me up hitchhiking and ...  patiently taught me to drive motorcycles (I couldn't afford a car).

Other women ... it did NOT go that way. *shudder*. 

Me? I got a Honda 125 so I didn't have to hitchhike any more ... never knowing the bullet I dodged with the very guy who taught me to drive the thing!  I was a really young, feral kid ... maybe that was part of it ... but mostly thank you GA!!!

It's a freaky feeling ... glad you came out ok, too!

13 minutes ago, akiva said:

Back on topic, I remembered another cold deck I've got... The Wildwood Tarot!

I can't part with it either, my parents bought it for me, I'm too sentimental for my own good 😢

Awww ... I think even a minimalist is entitled to a few sentimental keepsakes!

Edited October 1, 2023 by Misterei

[gregory]

19 minutes ago, akiva said:

Omg @Misterei you dodged a bullet there, you've definitely got someone/something looking out for you! I was in a similar predicament myself, he didn't end up in prison for 40 years though, only 4 😂

 

Back on topic, I remembered another cold deck I've got... The Wildwood Tarot!

Amazing art, but I couldn't get on with the guidebook. Loads of people really gel with this deck, but for me I just can't get to grips with it. It's completely silent.

 

That's because the guidebook wasn't really written for that deck. It's basically the book Mark Ryan wrote for the Greenwood, and when Chesca wouldn't let him reprint as she found the book SO wring,, he came up with the Wildwood, initially as a new Greenwood, but nobody bought in, so he just - left it in a mess. VERY unfair to Worthington; there is nothing wrong with his art. But look at - for instance - the book on The Archer -  the description in the book in NO way fits the image on the card....

 

The Wildwood book says the archer is aiming at the sky - as she does in the Greenwood - when she is clearly aiming toward the ground !

That's the most glaring example - but there are others.

[akiva]

31 minutes ago, Misterei said:

OMG! Right? This guy picked me up hitchhiking and ...  patiently taught me to drive motorcycles (I couldn't afford a car).

Other women ... it did NOT go that way. *shudder*. 

Me? I got a Honda 125 so I didn't have to hitchhike any more ... never knowing the bullet I dodged with the very guy who taught me to drive the thing!  I was a really young, feral kid ... maybe that was part of it ... but mostly thank you GA!!!

It's a freaky feeling ... glad you came out ok, too!

Hitchhiking?! That's crazy! At least you got a skill and bike out of it, maybe he found your feralness endearing? It was meant to be the way it is though, so you can share your wisdom with the world (and this wonderful forum).

Trying to imagine a young misteri tearing up the roads on a Honda 🏍😆

 

My situation was eerily similar to yours just without the motorbike. So thanks to my GA too! 😁

 

31 minutes ago, Misterei said:

Awww ... I think even a minimalist is entitled to a few sentimental keepsakes!

Of course, I just feel guilty that the one deck someone's bought me is a non reader, typical 😂

Edited October 1, 2023 by akiva

[akiva]

13 minutes ago, gregory said:

That's because the guidebook wasn't really written for that deck. It's basically the book Mark Ryan wrote for the Greenwood, and when Chesca wouldn't let him reprint as she found the book SO wring,, he came up with the Wildwood, initially as a new Greenwood, but nobody bought in, so he just - left it in a mess. VERY unfair to Worthington; there is nothing wrong with his art. But look at - for instance - the book on The Archer -  the description in the book in NO way fits the image on the card....

 

The Wildwood book says the archer is aiming at the sky - as she does in the Greenwood - when she is clearly aiming toward the ground !

That's the most glaring example - but there are others.

Yes, this was one of the things that stuck out to me when trying to use it. I love the art work, I find it really endearing/warming. But along with the disparity between some of the images and their descriptions, it's also the style of writing. I can't really deal with long descriptions for cards. The writing just never felt practical to me.

 

Do you use it? It seems quite popular

[GreatDane]

I also had the Wildwood Tarot.  Thought it was beautiful.  Just didn't resonate as a reader for me.  I thought it would, but didn't, but loved the nature vibe. 

[Wyrdkiss]

On 9/30/2023 at 12:48 AM, Chariot said:

I have never swithered more about buying a deck than I have over Deviant Moon.  I still  haven't bought it. There is something fascinating but also incredibly repellent about that deck that keeps me swithering.  It gives me the feeling that it would bring me personal bad luck if I bought it!  It's a very strong feeling, so I haven't.  Probably never will.  But it is SO interesting and, in some instances, amusing.  I actually like it a lot, but don't want it in my home!  Dang.

Patrick Valenza's oracles are also quite eccentric.  A Deviant Moon oracle is releasing and I will be getting that for sure, it has been in the works for years.  What I've seen resonates with me more "comfortably" than the tarot does.  but it's funny, my son bought me the DM as a gift in New Orleans on one of his first out of state trips with friends. So here is something tender, like fatherhood and my affinity for my son, and the times  I think of him and need a pull I grab the Deviant Moon.  based on your post, I find this thought rather entertaining that even the Deviant Moon's art can turn benign and sentimental .  

[Misterei]

3 hours ago, akiva said:

Hitchhiking?! That's crazy! ... Trying to imagine a young misteri tearing up the roads on a Honda 🏍😆

I lived on a remote mountaintop. I could walk to the local store for supplies ... but if I needed to get to town or back from town and didn't catch a ride with someone I knew ... hitching was the only way. The Honda was a HUGE step up. Still, I was too young to legally drive the honda and it had no plates because after buying it I had no money left for fees. I ran from the sherriffs and most times lost them ... but other times they caught me.

By the time I was 18 I had this FAT stack of tickets to clear before I could get a license. The Public Defender said he could get my sentence reduced to 6 months in jail. I fired him on the spot, spoke to the judge myself, and got my license after a weekend in jail and a fine. My first love picked me up from my jail "holiday" with a change of clothes, a bottle of perfume, and tickets to a concert. I had my license shortly after and happily never had legal troubles since!

 

@akiva  

<<Of course, I just feel guilty that the one deck someone's bought me is a non reader, typical 😂>>

 

LOL a Tarot student who became a friend said she would be afraid to ever buy me a a tarot deck };>

A friend gave me Ethereal Visions ... which I thought was "too pretty" at first ... but it actually reads well. You never know. Anyway its sweet your parents got you tarot even if its sentimental and not a reader.

Edited October 2, 2023 by Misterei

[Chariot]

@Wyrdkiss - I have since discovered Patrick Valenza's Triunfi Della Luna deck which I LOVE looking at via a flip-through on YouTube.  It's on my wish list now, although I'll need to wait till I can afford it ...expensive to buy, ship, and pay customs duty on.   It made me chuckle, the way The Harlot card did from that oracle deck.  I don't work with oracle cards, so I probably won't get that one, but yeah, the vibe is amusing as well as meaningful.

I also re-checked the Deviant Moon via another YouTube flip-through ...and still nope.  I can't put my finger on why I love the Triunfi Della Luna deck, but why the DM gives me such a queasy feeling that I don't want it in my collection at all.   But there it is.